A variety of alkyl and aryl sulfoxides have been successfullydeoxygenated using 3-mercaptopropionic acid as a reducing agentand a catalytic amount of either NBS or I2 (5-10mol%) in MeCN at ambient temperature. Under the describedreaction condition, acid sensitive substrates such as acetals remainedintact after several hours.
sulfoxides - deoxygenation - thioether - catalysis